Steroid Injections for Rhinoplasty Swelling at 7 Weeks?

Should I get steroid injections for rhinoplasty swelling when I reach 7 weeks post op? Is this too early or too late? Will it make a difference, or should I just keep waiting for the swelling to go down on its own?

Post- rhinoplasty swelling and steroid injections

June 20th, 2009

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At 7 weeks, the swelling is normal. I understand your eagerness to have everything settle down quickly, but your nose should be left alone and allowed to heal on its own without any "push." Steroids can cause damage by thinning the underlying soft tissue, by lightening the skin, and by causing telangiectasias( spider like veins). Let "tincture of time" be your medicine right now and allow your body to heal at its own rate.

Steroids after Rhinoplasty?

March 17th, 2011

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Generally the swelling after Rhinoplasty should dissipate in time. The use of steroid injections after surgery is a personal choice from surgeon to surgeon and depends on their preferences. The benefits of steroid injections need to be weighed against the possible risks. In my practice I have not found necessities for it and I have seen patients from other surgeons who have been injected with steroids and have experienced atrophy. This is something you should discuss at length with your surgeon. Best regards!

Rhinoplasty Pictures

Are Steroids useful in Rhinoplasty

February 7th, 2011

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Each surgeon has his own approach but I will typically use steroids if I feel swelling is actually increasing rather than decreasing around 6-8 weeks after surgery. This is especially true if the patient is a redo or has thicker, oilier skin. Dosages are low and can be repeated on a monthly basis for several months as needed. You surgeon needs to guide you in this as he might not even believe in using steroids. Best of luck

Steroids not necessary after Rhinoplasty

June 28th, 2009

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Steroid injections after rhinoplasty shouldn't be a routine treatment. Occasionally, someone will benefit from steroid injections but these are the exceptions, not the rule. Let your surgeon evaluate you and decide if you need steroid injections.

Steroid Injections after Rhinoplasty

June 27th, 2009

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There is no correct answer for all people. The treatment is individualized. I have injected very low doses of Kenalog (a steroid) when taking off the cast post-operatively in a patient with very thick skin.

Check with your doctor

June 22nd, 2009

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Hi,

Thank you for your question.

Some surgeons give steroid injections at this point, while others prefer to let the swelling go down on its own. It really depends on what type of surgery you had done and specifics on what was done. Check with your plastic surgeon and see what he recommends. Its appears that you are healing nicely and your nostrils are symmetric which is always a good sign. Different parts of the nose can heal at different rates and also it can take up to a year to see your final results.

Side Effects of Injections Should be balanced

June 21st, 2009

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The exact timing of steroid injections after Rhinoplasty has not been established. The "benefit" of any intervention including steriod injections needs to be balanced with the potential 'risks" of the procedure. In steroi injections excessive thinning of the nasal tip skin and contour problems needs to be considered.

Rhinoplasty; When is Best Time for Steroid Injections After Surgery to Decrease Swelling?

June 19th, 2009

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Hi NATX,

At this point you it is too close to your revision surgery to make conclusions about your final outcome. I would advise you to follow your surgeons instructions. A low dose steroid injection may help with the swelling in your tip.

At this point hopefully your tip swelling will decrease, and the slight excess over your supra-tip dorsum (profile) will decrease. Right now your upper 2/3 of your nose appears narrow in relation to your tip.

Be patient and hopefully everything will settle down. It is important to follow your surgeon's advise for the next few months.

Your nose looks fine 7 weeks after surgery.

June 19th, 2009

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I don't think your bridge is too narrow. A narrow bridge on the front view is much more attractive than a wide bridge.

I see a little fullness of the lower bridge, just above the tip on your profile view. After examining you, if I thought this was swelling, I would feel very comfortable injecting dilute triamcinolone (steroid), at this stage of the game.

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